ART
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
www.gonzaga.edu/art THE PROGRAM
THE PASSION
Gonzaga’s Art Department allows students to investigate a variety of visual experiences through a study of both the studio arts and art history. Studio courses allow the student to explore the creative processes involved in producing original works of art. These courses include the areas of ceramics, design, drawing, oil painting, and printmaking. Art appreciation, art survey, and art history courses emphasize the role of the artist in society and develop a greater sense of the importance of art’s cultural context.
The visual arts provide a means for people to better understand themselves and their society, as well as insight into aspects of other cultures. Art reflects the social, political, religious, and philosophical tenets of humanity. Since the language of the visual arts is not specific to a particular time and place, artists throughout the world have employed the principles of design to express themselves. As a result, across numerous ages and cultures, people have continued to encounter and appreciate works of art.
Gonzaga encourages its students to bring the whole of their spiritual, creative, and intellectual experience to the learning process. The University’s Art curriculum teaches students to discipline, refine, and focus their creative intellect. By exploring the aesthetic limitations and possibilities that exist within the applied rules of composition and design, students hone their skills in creative problem-solving and learn effective visual communication of ideas. Further instruction is offered at the Gonzaga University study abroad program in Florence, Italy. In Florence, students may work in one or more studio areas of drawing, design, sculpture, and painting. They also have access to additional classes in art history. Art becomes a living study as students explore the artwork and techniques of the Great Masters. Gonzaga’s Art Department offers a major (39 credits) and minor (24 credits), which encourage creativity and innovation and emphasize developing the fundamentals of each artistic medium.
CURRICULUM The Art curriculum is designed to help students become proficient in a variety of art forms and studio techniques, effectively use elements of design, and demonstrate a fundamental understanding of art history. Art students will also produce a competent body of work in one or more studio areas during their studies at Gonzaga. Art majors take seven required lower-division courses and six upper-division courses. The lower-division courses consist of: • • • • •
One introductory course in design Two courses in drawing Two introductory courses in art survey One course in ceramics One course in painting
The upper-division required courses give students more flexibility to choose courses based on their individual interests in art. Among the six required upper-division courses, Art majors will complete: • • • • •
One course in printmaking One course in figure drawing Two upper-division courses in art history One upper-division studio elective A Senior Exhibit of original works
Art minors also take a breadth of courses that includes multiple studio areas, principles of design, and art history. The minor, however, has only eight required courses: • • • • •
One introductory course in drawing One introductory course in design One lower-division studio elective One upper-division course in art history Four upper-division studio electives
OUTCOMES Ultimately, the best assessment of the program is student success beyond Gonzaga. Students have been accepted at major graduate programs throughout the United States. As a result of their education in the Art Department at Gonzaga, a large number of former students work as individual artists, teach at colleges and universities, work in galleries and museums, and work in applied art fields.
THE PLACE
THE PEOPLE Gonzaga’s art faculty is comprised of both exceptional artists and professors. All studio faculty members are dedicated to creative production as professional artists who teach. The greatest teaching tool in the classroom is the faculty member who is first and foremost a practicing artist. The Art Department’s small classes allow for individual attention and personal interaction. To view images of artwork from Gonzaga faculty, as well as student work from Senior Exhibits, please visit gonzaga.edu/art. Faculty Contacts & Specialties Mary Farrell | M.F.A., University of Cincinnati | printmaking and drawing | farrellm@calvin.gonzaga.edu Gina Freuen | B.F.A., Pacific Lutheran University | design | freuen@gonzaga.edu Robert Gilmore | B.F.A., Boston University | Kreielsheimer Professor of Art | painting and drawing | gilmore@gonzaga.edu Paul Manoguerra | Ph.D., Michigan State University | art history and museum studies | manoguerra@gonzaga.edu Shalon Parker | Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley | Dept. Chair | art history | parker@gonzaga.edu Roger Ralston | M.F.A., Louisiana State University | art appreciation | ralston@gonzaga.edu Mathew Rude | M.F.A., Montana State University | ceramics | rude@gonzaga.edu
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Gonzaga’s Jundt Art Center and Museum is located on the shores of the Spokane River. The heart of the center is a beautiful studio complex for ceramics, design, drawing, painting, and printmaking. A theatre-style lecture hall provides space for art history, visiting artist lectures, and video/film presentations. The Jundt Art Museum provides collection, storage, and exhibit areas for Gonzaga University’s permanent art collection and the ability to not only provide exhibit space for student and faculty art, but changing exhibits of local, regional, national, and international artwork. The most important museum show is the annual Senior Art Exhibit in May, which features the work of Gonzaga’s talented senior artists. Frequent faculty exhibits feature the work of Gonzaga’s outstanding artists and professors.